August 9, 2010

  • I Am Sorry

    The other day I wrote a post about how to read a tracker.  I said that it was impossible to fake a person’s computer ID in that post.  I was incorrect.  Here is that post:  Link

    A few people were clever and even showed that my user name could be attached to sites that I did not use.  Here is that link:  Link  They attached my site to the tracker to a bunch of sites called “snoopydog” proving I was wrong. 

    But more importantly I want to say sorry for the direction I have taken my site.  Being on here for 5 and a half years I have managed to avoid engaging in drama for the most part.  I always say drama is when a person mentions another person by name.  Controversy is when a person deals with controversial topics.  I will always engaged in controversial topics.  But I want to avoid the drama and personal attacks.

    I must admit that recently I have had my message box filled with drama.  I have had people in the last few weeks pull me into their personal battles and I took sides.  It was easy to do with a few people attacking me from multiple sites.  I engaged in this drama in personal messages and really said things in personal messages that I am not proud of.

    This last week, I received a 16.5% raise at work.  I am pretty proud of my hard work and what I have achieved.  Xanga is a place where I want to come and have fun.  I don’t want to involve myself in battles.

    I realize there are sites on here that engage in drama constantly.  I will be unsubscribing and defriending some of those sites.  I am not speaking against those people who run those sites.  Xanga is like TV.  Some people like soap operas.  Some people like Jerry Springer.  Some people just want to sit in front of FoxNews.  I realize that we have different content for different people. 

    But I want my time on xanga to be enjoyable so I am going to slowly withdraw from a few sites and those who support those sites with recommends.  It is nothing personal but I want to get back to the way I blog.  I will attempt to avoid answering messages that deal in drama also.

    Once again, I am sorry for getting involved in the drama and I promise to do a little better job of not engaging in that behavior on my site.

    I appreciate your support.

                                                             

Comments (128)

  • drama sucks, but…it’s entertaining.

  • Congrats on your raise. (:

  • You rock!
    :)
    Its okay, drama has a way of sucking you in.

  • Balls

  • I wonder if things may change slightly with this…probably not. But I am glad you are taking this stand. :)

  • Congrats on the raise, and good job standing for what you believe in.

    We all screw up sometimes. its ok.

  • At least you’re man enough to admit you were wrong. That’s something that most wouldn’t even think of doing on here.

  • *SUPPORTS YOU FOREVER*

  • I took my inspiration from Paul to do the same. I like some of the people involved, but I want to stay out of it all too. Xanga will be stronger with the Xangans who have been here for a while, like you, Paul, Paige, and Dave staying above it all and leaving the silliness to the silly.

  • Woo, Dan!

  • Good man. 

  • Good for you <33

  • @greenbird321 - I completely agree. Drama is only hilarious until you get dragged into it. Then it’s like… “FUUUU-!” x_x

  • Congratulations on your raise :)

  • I really really like you now! It takes a REAL man to say something like you just did! And I still think you are awesome sauce. 

  • that’s admirable. :)

  • At least you are big enough to admit when you’re wrong.

    Drama isn’t worth the time. I have spent most of my time ignoring it even though it costs me popularity and traffic. I did get sucked into rec’ing one or two entries but that won’t be happening again. I am quietly pruning people who are short fuses and who only seem to be on the attack all the time. That’s not why I’m here. I realize that’s what gets traffic, but I’m not interested in that kind of traffic.

  • I did not even realize you were a real person, nor for my part did I even care. You are just something to entertain me, now do it right, I have a very short attention span, and do not appreciate you wasting my time. Also I do not care how much you make, what you do, or how much of a life you have when you are not entertaining me.

  • I am glad you are doing this. Hopefully with someone like you doing it, people will realize all this drama isn’t cool.

  • Congrats! Thats a pretty good raise! =)

    No worries Dan. As much as some people on here hate on you so much.
    I never forget that you’re still a person behind the screen. We all make mistakes.
    You’re still awesome in my books. =)

  • sounds good to me. :)

  • Dan, I am proud of you and I always love you. 

  • Apology accepted. Not that you needed to apologize to me. LOL

  • Congratulations on your raise man.

  • great, now i can finally start my job on here.

  • I didn’t realize you were getting sucked in….

  • “like” LOL

  • Way to be on being awesome. I hope I never caused you any Xanga grief (inadvertent or otherwise).

  • Is this a sign that Jesus is coming back soon?

  • Well said. I’m no fan of the drama, but it’s easy to get sucked into it. I’m doing my best to stay away from it now as well. It’s fine if others are entertained by it, but it’s not for me.

    Also, congrats on the raise!

  • i hope to always see you on my friend’s list.

    @AceValentineRocks - i sure hope you are joking, or at least using “xanga sarcasm”.

  • This shows who’s truely taking the high road. I doubt many others on here would own up to their mistakes.

    && Congrats on the raise! Thats great!

  • hi Dan comin by to say hello..the raise was nice…and thanks for being honest..i hadnt been on in awhile. xanga isnt the same anymore. it is more like fb or twitter..so it isnt the site back when we knew it like 5 yrs ago..the drama has gotten out of hand at times. we all have drama in our own lives to deal with.. just trying to be who we are and live in this crazy world. anyways, hope you have a great week.. Robin

  • 16% does that mean i’ll start getting child support?

  • @The_Female_Essence - I cant imagine any reason why anybody wouldn’t like dan

  • Congrats on the raise. I salute you for your principles, Dan. :)

    PS I hope I don’t get pruned.

  • *thumbs up* drama sucks.

  • I have way too much real life drama to pay attention to Xanga issues.  I don’t get how these people have so much time and energy. 

    And congrats on that raise!!!  That’s a lot these days considering the economy.

  • I appreciate you, Dan.

  • Yay for the raise!  :0)

  • I guess the fires will go out if we stop throwing wood on. (First person who says “we need petrol” gets a wedgie!)

  • Takes a real man to admit when they were in the wrong.  Glad to hear about your new direction.

  • Hello, thanks for dropping by my site. You have some great articles here.

  • Drama?  What drama?  ;)

    Always the man, Dan.

  • Agreeing with all the other comments.  Maybe you can set a good example for us?

  • I approve of this message.

  • I’m going to go with “meh.” 

  • Leaders take responsibility.  Well done, Dan.

  • Congratulations on your raise. Also, nice post. Way to be. :) Glad you are here.

  • dang what the heck? I didn’t even know this was all going on…i subscribed to sasswithclass at first and then unsubscribed cuz it was starting to become one of those shit talking blogs. and my other friend started asking how to find and block certain IP addresses and how to use the tracker. you opened up a pandora’s box of suspicion here, dan. i dont want my friend to be stalking her stalkers and being obsessed with keeping track, so i advised her against getting sucked into it and told her that you cannot block anything more than a xanga account because they can just go to another computer or change their IP address (you can easily have it changed for the same computer and same connection) and besides, you can’t block an IP address with the tracker anyway.

    anyway, lesson is, ignore stupid shit. 

  • Congratulations on your job raise.
    =)

    I avoid the drama too… block those who get into it.

  • good to hear your change of direction…

  • smooth move dan……this is why I dont blog about this tripe or Xanga drama….

  • you deserve to enjoy xanga as much as anyone else. well done on the raise! and the fact you apologised means a lot in my books :) everyone makes mistakes!

  • I don’t know exactly how suhock works, but information about your computer (IP address) or where you were coming from before you visited the page (referrer), can all be “spoofed” to be whatever you want. Unless you’re the intended target (server) that requires the information, everything else is just being picked up in transit, which in the data packet that is being sent can be altered on demand. It’s crafty “hacker” (networking, in this case) stuff, but it is not hard to do. For instance, you can use programs like Tor and Privoxy (which have add-ons for Firefox) that let you connect to a list of proxies, effectively making you anonymous when you surf the web because any website will see the proxy’s IP, not yours. Referrers can also just be turned off entirely. My guess is that the snoopydog users just made an account, logged in and then spoofed the IP to match your own. Then it appears as if you are snoopydog! IPs are only useful if (1) you know the person is really using that address. Just like mailing addresses, anyone can put yours down as their own! Additionally, (2) the internet provider keeps it the same. While your address doesn’t turnover quickly, it can and does change. Only people that purchase internet service for hosting stuff (servers) will really get static IPs. If you’ve dealt with your own home network, you usually will do DHCP. Your router will then just automatically assign (lease) an IP address to the computers in your home network. The same applies with your IP address. Unless you’ve purchased a static one, you’re on this wider network DHCP. When the lease on your IP is up, it can change. Sometimes (if not often) you’ll just be re-leased the same IP. So when people talk about “ban the IP” that is actually a stupid idea. People don’t have static IPs! The solution would be to “ban the subnet!” but then you’re banning everyone with an xxx.xxx.xxx.yyy address. That’s potentially 250 some ought “yyy” that are included in the ban, just for belonging to the “xxx.xxx.xxx” domain.

    We have a choice when it comes to security, just like when it comes to civil liberties. We can want more protection by giving up our rights. When it comes to Xanga, you can give up the freedom for everyone to view your blog by turning on sign-on lock or friends-lock. While burdensome to viewers, it offers you a lot more protection, and the only real protection. If you want only the people you know to talk to you, turn on friends lock. It’s just like how facebook gives you options of letting everyone see your stuff or just friends (or friends of friends, etc.). In fact, people seem to think Xanga is some open community where you should let everyone in. It isn’t, unless that’s how you want to blog. Most people use it as a social medium, and like any social medium you should limit it to your friends only. While I think Xanga should offer more options (e.g., a list of users not on your friend’s list that can view your blog, or view but no comments allowed, or something else), we should take advantage of what is there now. If you have privacy issues, then the burden is upon you to “harden” your site. In doing that, you can have full control of what users are viewing your stuff, and remove them as you please. Not everyone should be allowed to view or comment on your Twitter or Myspace or Facebook. So why use a different rule when it comes to your Xanga? That is a choice each user has to make. Leaving it to blocking IPs or other inane ideas for Xanga to handle is just irresponsible if not downright stupid.

  • Yes, it is possible to fake someone’s IP address in a post. As a matter of fact, you can even steal another Xangan’s IP address and pretend to be him/her. I fell victim to these kind of tricks from haters (such as lonelywanderer2, sonychak, Mae, etc) who tried to shut down my site by creating fake accounts and make me look bad. You, as internet website developer, should’ve known about this for years. Before you take sides in any online drama, do your homework.

  • Let me Thank you for two things, firstly letting people know what you thought was good advice and wanting to share that with others, secondly for your apology to all and sundry.

    You are a good person.

    Congratulations.

  • A noble decision. Much respect.

  • Congratsand keep up the good work!

  • AWE. I forgive you, BAHAHAHAHAH!! Like you ever did anything wrong. Silly gander.
    I like all of your posts, and recs. Because you never rec anything that’s bogus.

  • We all make mistakes, but not all of us are strong enough to admit them.  I admire you for this, Dan.

    And congrats on the raise!

  • Im rather glad youve decided to avoid drama. Drama isnt what I call low, but it isnt exactly high. It’s something best avoided for some lest it pull you in so deep you become about nothing BUT drama. Im glad to know that there are still people who understand what’s what and are decidedly aloof in the purest way.

  • Whoa technical stuff is scary!!!

  • hey dan, long time. 

  • i think you are best!  congrats on your raise :)

  • Luck on achieving what you want; I try to avoid drama myself.

  • No worries. We live in a time where there is much room for misunderstandings and things. 

  • occasionally people pop up in my reality.  ya lo se.  i’m not much for attention.  it is annoying.  be direct, be, be direct. 

    an opinion is a hing of air.

  • Congrats on your raise, Dan. Where are you taking us for dinner?

  • Congratulations. :3

  • Thanks for the info, I missed too much of the hoopla to need an apology.  I hope the drama dies down, I can’t really imagine you ever blocking anyone? (At first read I wondered if someone had hacked your account, the style isn’t quite right?) But, if blocking’s what you need to do, for you, then do it. I figure with internet tracking systems if there’s a way to track it then there had to be a way to beat the system as well. With digital technology I’m coming to believe that you can’t simply believe what you see, read, or hear. You have to lean heavily on common sense and at the core you have to make an active choice to either trust or not trust the source; because it seems just about any information can be manipulated if someone has the time and effort to dedicate to doing it.

  • @TheGildedCage - Agreed. I’ve managed to stay here for 7 years because I’ve avoided drama, overall. Honestly, this intense Xangan-bashing will subside. It’s like everything else I’ve seen on here – it, too, will pass.

  • Wow, that’s an awesome raise, congratulations! Was that the result of some amazing project of yours or the result of long-standing years of excellent service?

    I’m glad you wrote this. Sometimes I’m not sure whether you’re being serious when it’s about drama, haha, but I’m going to take you at your word this time. Maybe you’ll start an actual peace-making trend, lol. Hey, they did it with environmentalism. It’s trendy to be “green”. Maybe it’ll be trendy to be “encouraging” for awhile.
    Have to work on a better word for it though. Something catchy….
    ~V

  • You’re a good man, Dan. #welldone

  • This is the Dan I know and love! Let’s get back to controversy and sarcasm!

    P.S. Congrats on the raise. Hard work pays off!

  • Dear Dan,

    I stay away from Drama, but sometimes I blog about it.

    I usually get about 15 comments per post. My regular “readers” will rec my “creative” posts, but not enough to get my entries noticed on the rec. or top blogs page. “Creative” posts can sometimes take up to 4-6 hours to prepare.

    When I blog about Xanga, (usually deriding the latest drama du jour)  my posts get to the top of the rec. page. and the top blogs page. Blogs about Xanga usually take about 10 minutes to write and post.

    This amazes and disgusts me. And is one of the reasons why I don’t use Xanga as much as I once did. I’d rather get the comments and recs for the “creative” posts.

    I read your “tracker” post. You seldom have the capability of surprising me, but I was surprised that you would write an entry seemingly designed to stimulate “drama”. (as opposed to just being “controversial”) I’m glad I came back to your site today to see an apology.

    As one of your readers, I accept your apology.

    There seems to be a lot of “loose lips” in the media and blogosphere these days. Writers on the internet and media celebrities who find microphones shoved in front of their faces seem to let their emotions rather then their intellect determine what is written/posted/declared. Then a couple of days later they apologize, even if they really don’t need to apologize. Some times what they say affects their media “career” and sometimes it doesn’t. A publicist will say any publicity is good publicity. As possibly the top top blogger on Xanga, you really don’t need the publicity. Sometimes I think you just “push buttons’ to see what happens. I am jealous of your “power” in the Xangasphere.

    It used to be that a 15% raise (per annum) was considered to be a standard practice. I think the last time I got a 15% raise was over a decade ago. Congratulations.

    Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool 

  • congrats on your raise and… an admirable decision. kudos to you!

  • Do what is best for you.  Congrats on your raise :)

  • Congrats on your raise!  :)
    ♥

  • It must have been a weekend of self-reflection.  

  • yeaaah I miss original Dan.

  • Yay! 

  • Good for you, Dan, for admitting you were wrong. I try to stay away from the drama myself. I usually have enough in my own life and it’s just too tiring to get involved with it here. Congrats on your raise. You’re doing better than most of us. I work hard. I need a raise. I am jealous.

  • Like I’ve said before: these people need to get jobs.

  • 16.5%??????  wow.  I don’t know what else you said cause I can’t get past that number.

  • Whoa, congrats on your raise! :)

    & what a great way you chose to handle everything in the end,I commend you!

  • Oh noez, don’t defriend me!!! <3.

  • First – congratulations on the raise! That’s just awesome! 

    Secondly, good for you on the drama thing. People are actually leaving the site over it, which is pretty sad.

  • Congrats on your ginormous raise. buy me a pink unicorn with a diamond encrusted saddle!!

  • Writing an apology takes a lot of courage & shows what type of character you have! I am so impressed. Many people on Xanga seem too concerned with drama & being right that they lose sight on the ability kindness has on others. Congrats on your raise! I can see why you received it.

  • you. are. awesome.

    period.

  • I agree, Drama is not something I need in my life, either. I have had the saying to few people in and out of my life; “I deal with FAMILY drama. My children have reasons, they are young and immature, I am going to be teaching them. Adult, on the other hand, have no excuse. They are grown up and mature. I am out to be friends with people, to have adult time, so I can feel grown up and have a good converstation.”

    Because really, if my family have enough of that childish talk, I might as well continue the childish talk with those people who are immature. “Ga-ga-goo, yea? Aww. Are we so cute?”

    Please, really.

    Like you said, Xanga should be the place of entertainment and enjoyment. Let’s have fun and real talk. Otherwise, I will just go back with my children and speak in THEIR language. At least with them, I have a better understanding than with the immature grown up people.

  • Sounds good to me! Your drama-free posts are always the best, anyway ;)

  • Good news about the raise.

  • and again I missed the drama while on temporary leave from the big X……….

  • drinks are on you, sir.  good work.

    drama should all be contained on an ish site.  keep it away from the general population.

  • i first want to congratulate you on your raise… that’s exciting! secondly, i applaud you for righting your wrong and admitting you weren’t right. it takes a huge person to do that. and third, to take yourself out of the xanga drama is also very big of you. and although it’s just xanga, i appreciate that there are still people like you out there.

  • It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you not by angels or by demons heaven or hell.

  • no worries dan

  • I think that’s an admirable thing to do :)

  • congrats on the raise.

  • Congratulations on your raise and new-found vision for your Xanga life :P

  • Be careful. The drama llama spits.

  • perhaps an apology is warranted for Dave…who was directly affected with your involvement…just saying. I think that would be the right thing to do.

  • That’s great! I already began to wonder…

  • For that raise of yours, and for doing what you want. : )

  •  What Gilded said.. and what I always say … I <3 Dan

  • It’s good you are taking a stand against the drama. This is a place where people should come to have fun and be themselves without being attacked. 

  • Oh, Dan, we forgive you! Everyone gets drawn in sometimes. At least you haven’t been doing it for ages now. And you caught yourself and stopped. Good for you!

  • Honestly, I should say you’re only human it happens but I’m going to say you should of known better…if you feel bad about what you say then..you know you did something wrong but still…it does happen.

  • Great choice darlin’!  I”m proud of you for it and I hope to see you continue to post here for years to come. 

    I may not always reply to posts, but I’m always reading them!

    Hugs!

  • Congratulations on the raise.
    Much props for having the maturity to admit you were wrong for getting involved in the drama and going after Dave the way you did.
    Apology accepted. We should all take part in Project Positive.

  • I guess we can’t be pals, chums, amigos, buddies, etc. Engaging in flame wars and flame baiting is how I get my rocks off.

  • That took a lot of courage and humility. Nicely said

  • You should send a copy of this pathetic blog to RestlessButterfly and tell her to write a similar sorry blog to me and my siblings.

  • glad you said it.

  • aw, good for you. <3

  • Thanks, Dan. This is a good apology. It’s ok.

  • I guess time will tell huh?

  • Wow. All that just to brag about your raise? What a new low, man.

  • Congratulations on the raise..in these hard economic times it is nothing short of a miracle.

    And it takes a big man to admit he is wrong or said crummy things. I admire you.

    christy

  • Well deserved.. Congrats Dan!

  • Congratulations! :) Must be good.

  • I too hope others would follow and stop getting into all the drama. 

    Way to go on the raise!

  • I LOVE INTERNET PEOPLE.

    :D

  • Oh I thought this might be for that homophobic thing you posted.

  • @kinamorata - You’re cute! Hopefully you are over 18. No, actually better you not be. ;)

    @deflat - <… sigh. <3 so. so. much. I dunno, you aged out. Anyway, Asian girls. pedophiles, kill myself and shit. lulz.

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